"Ugh, I slept like a rock," Cilan announced exiting his room nearest to the living room as he stretched his arms.
"Tell me about it, this village really makes you just wanna sleep," Ash agreed strolling past Cilan towards the living room and flopping down on the couch.
"Hey, Ash where are the girls?" Cilan asked took around the house for the two females, Iris and Dawn.
"I don't know," Ash answered as he turned on the TV and started flipping through channels, "maybe they went to get some food or to train", Ash said, snapping the TV off, since nothing good was on, and was now interested in the were bouts of the girls.
"Ash, is all you think about food and pokemon?" Cilan asked Ash, even though he already knew the answer, he strolled into the kitchen and began to make some coffee.
"No Cilan, that's not all I think about, I also think about...um gir-" but Ash sharply cut himself off, Cilan arched an eyebrow at the raven haired boy, "Er…um I-I mean…n-no you got me, Cilan! I think about Pokemon, food and nothing more!" Ash yelled trying to cover up his big slip up.
Cilan chuckled and shook his head, "I knew it Ash! Okay, now who's the girl?" Cilan questioned, still making his coffee.
"Wh-What?! G-girl there is no gi-girl! I have no in-interest in g-girls!" Ash rushed trying to hide a blush coming over his cheeks.
"No, I'm pretty sure I hear the word girl slip from your mouth earlier," Cilan informed turning to face Ash as the coffee starting to brew.
"Cilan, I already told you, all I think about is yummy pokemon and training food!" Ash blurted out, as the blush on his cheeks became much more evident as he rambled, "N-No I mean food pokemon and yummy training-Ugh I mean-"
"Ash, give it up and just admit it!" Cilan said chuckling at his friends rambling.
"Ugh! You know what I meant, and okay Cilan, I like a girl, happy?" Ash muttered embarrassed as he came to the table and took a seat.
"Much so, I'm glad your finally growing up," Cilan stated, as he strolled from the kitchen and took a seat on the opposite side of the table from Ash.
"Yeah I'm growing up great," Ash muttered not really caring about that, "and yes…I-I like a girl…but I'm not actually sure if she likes me back," he added softly trying not to face Cilan.
"Ash has a crush?!" both of the guys turned to see Shannon standing in the doorway.
"NO!" Ash shouted, embarrassed
"Yeah, he does," Cilan countered
"CILAN!" Ash groaned, covering his now red face
"And now I'm going to go for a walk, and hey Shannon, why don't you give Ash some advice?" Cilan suggested as he winked at Ash, who as shooting him daggers.
"Thanks a lot Cilan you're such a big help" Ash sarcastically praised as the green haired guy walked out the door closing it on his way out.
"So first things first, Ash, who is she?" Shannon asked having taking Cilan's seat across from Ash.
"Uh…I really don't wanna say," Ash answered, fidgeting with his fingers "but her name isn't important…it's just that I'm not sure if this girl likes me back" Ash stated with a saddened face.
"Come on Ash I haven't know you long, but from what I've heard from Iris and Dawn you never give up" Shannon encouraged trying to brighten Ash's spirits.
"You're right Shannon I'm not giving up", Ash announced jumping to his feet.
Shannon stared at Ash giggling gently to herself.
"What's so funny Shannon?" Ash inquired looking at her with a puzzled look.
"Oh nothing, it's just that a moment ago you were upset now you're all pumped up," Shannon pointed out gesturing to Ash still giggling gentle.
"Oh is that it? Anyway Shannon do have any tips that I should know, so that I can make this girl like me?" Ash questioned taking a seat again and looking intensively at Shannon.
Shannon thought for a second before stating "Well…um first thing I guess, would be that you need to act yourself and be nice,"
"Okay that should be easy," Ash said leaning back in his chair.
"Because you already do that don't you?" Shannon pointed out, smiling.
"Yeah that's it I guess," Ash said, "so is there anything else?"
"Um…well you could spend some time hanging out with this girl," Shannon suggested, "and you could get her a gift, girls like gifts,"
"Okay, hanging out, and gifts," Ash repeated, added these things to his mental list
"Now since I answered your question," Shannon said, "could you answer my question?"
"What question?" Ash asked
"About who your crush is!" Shannon said, "Please, tell me Ash!"
Ash felt his face warm as he thought of a certain girl, "Er…um well I-I um-"
"Come on Ash tell me who you have a crush on please!" Shannon pleaded giving Ash a pair of puppy dog eyes.
"Okay, okay," Ash couldn't stand puppy dog eyes, "but you have to promise not to tell anyone", Ash whispered looking at Shannon with serious eyes.
"Okay I promise", Shannon promised getting gitty.
"Alright…well sh-she's um…" Ash felt his face burn and he bite his lip before he whispered in a soft voice to were Shannon almost didn't hear him, "it's…um Ir-Iris"
"Oh my gosh! I had no idea!" Shannon gasped surprised, that Ash had a crush on her closet friend At that moment the door opened and in stepped Iris and Dawn.
"You had no idea about what?" Iris asked carrying a bag in her left hand.
"Oh nothing!" Ash shouted, jumping up from his chair, "Um Shannon, how about we take a walk so we can finishing talking," Ash said panicked as he grabbed Shannon's had and rushed outside.
"Phew, we barely got out of that one Ash," Shannon stated as the two walked away from the house.
Suddenly Cilan ran by yelling, "Oh my gosh I forgot about my coffee!"
The two broke out laughing as they made their way towards town.
"Cilan seems kind of interesting doesn't he", Shannon pointed out Cilan as he dashed towards the house.
"Yeah he is interesting and actually he's very nice", Ash stated strolling down the road.
"Um Ash, it just crossed my mind…but do you think Iris may think that we...um well you know…" Shannon let her voice trail off as she tried to imply what she was saying; a worried look decorated her face.
"What's the matter Shannon? What might Iris think?" Ash asked, raising an eyebrow as they started into town.
"Well you know how we were laughing and how you grabbed me by my hand and rush out of Iris's house like that…" Shannon started to panic a bit on the inside as the thought about what her purple haired friend might be at the moment.
The magenta haired bit her lip, 'Oh I hope Iris isn't thinking what I think she's thinking!' Shannon thought nervously, 'When Ash grabbed my hand like that it made it look like…Ash likes me instead of her!' this thought filled her with even more panic because Shannon knew that Iris like Ash, sure Iris never came out and told her, but by the way Iris talked about him nonstop it was just so obvious!
"Um…I'm not following you Shannon," Ash said giving a puzzled look as he shrugged his shoulders.
Shannon sweatdropped, obsessively the raven haired boy had no idea what his action of pulling her out of the house had kinda implied.
"Well maybe she thought that you and me...are um dating behind her back", Shannon shyly muttered under her breath.
Ash's eyes bugged out of his head as a mental bell went off in his head, "What have I-?! Or you?! I mean we?! Or whoever just done?!" Ash shouted trying to pull himself together, as he waved his hands in the air referencing to them, then the house, and then back to them.
"I-I don't know…b-but we need to go back and explain this to Iris, now!" Shannon cried in a panicked tone and was about to take off running towards the house, but Ash stopped her and pulled her back.
"Wait hold on…what if we make her think that and play off of it a little?" Ash asked, mischievously stroking his chin, "how about we go grab some breakfast?"
"What are you talking about Ash?! And where in the world did you get that idea?!" Shannon raised an eyebrow not fully understanding.
"Um from my brain, duh," Ash said, seeing that it was the most obvious answer, "come on it'll be fun and besides I haven't eaten breakfast yet, I'm starved!", Ash announced giving his usual goofy smile.
"O-Oh, right…for a second there I-I thought you meant…it was like a date or something," Shannon blushed a little and laughed, feeling stupid for thinking such a thing.
"What no, why would you think that Shannon?" Ash question taking his turn to be confused.
"Oh nothing, now come on Ash," Shannon spun and snatched Ash's hat off his head and placed it on her head, "try and catch me" with that Shannon took off running and laughing loudly.
"Hey! Iris not cool give it back!" Ash yelled as he took off after Shannon.
Shannon stopped dead in her tracks and turned around to face Ash, she doubled over laughing
"Ash you really do like Iris don't you?" Shannon giggled as she handed Ash back his Kalos hat.
"What makes you say that Shannon?" Ash asked as he placed his signature item back on his head of messy black hair.
"Well you just called me Iris!" Shannon said rolling his eyes.
Ash started rubbing the back of his neck as blush colored his face.
"Oh…er um…hehehe so-sorry about that…er uh to make it up to you breakfast is on me!" Ash announced still embarrassed a little about what had just happened.
"Sure Ash," Shannon giggled, "now I know just how sweet of a guy you are, just like Iris said you were!" Shannon sarcastically flirted as she took Ash's arms.
"Yeah-wait what else has Iris said about me?" Ash inquired as they started off into town.
"Not much else", Shannon laughed gently, knowing full well that wasn't true
"Come on Shannon tell me what she said", Ash pleaded, whining.
Shannon separated herself from Ash causing him to stop.
"Well nothing much else besides…" she flashed a playful smirk, "except that you're such a little kid!" Shannon shouted, quoting her best friend, before she took off running down the road.
"I'm not a little kid Iris!" Ash yelled taking off after her, but after a moment he realized what he had just said again and face palmed himself realizing his stupidity.
Both of the girls just stood there staring that the door jealously boiling up inside of them. "Did Ash really just take her by the hand and get her alone?" both of the thought to themselves. Finally the trance was broke when Cilan burst through the door and rushed into the kitchen making a dive for a slightly smoking coffee machine.
"What happened Cilan? And why is the coffee burning?" Iris yelled setting down her back and rushing into the kitchen.
"Oh it's nothing I just left the house to give Ash and Shannon some alone time," Cilan responded, but then realizing what he just accidentally implied.
Hearing this Iris shifted on her heals roughly, the strong piercing look of jealousy on her a face could be visible to anyone a million miles away.
"Oh well, Cilan if you need me I'll be in my room," Iris muttered in an aggravated tone as she strolled out of the kitchen and into her room.
Cilan clenched his teeth for Iris's disappearance down the hall, was quickly followed by the loud slamming sound of her bedroom door. No amount of hunkering could have prepared Cilan for the thundering slam of her door. It was so loud that Cilan questioned how the door was still in one piece, let alone standing. Dawn looked on amazed at what had just happened not understanding why Iris just acted that way. Dawn walked over and picked up Iris bag and made her way over to the den of the dragon trainer girl. She slowly opened the door to see Iris lying on her bed, her hands covering her face,
"Iris you okay? You seem upset," Dawn naively spoke up closing the door behind her.
"Oh I'm sorry Dawn…I-I'm just a little u-upset," Iris muttered, slowly sitting up in a slouching position on the edge of her bed.
"A little upset?" Dawn repeated, taking a seat next to her friend on the bed
"Yeah…a little," Iris repeated, trying to hid the glumness in her tone
"Oh, Iris don't try and lie! I know something is wrong," Dawn persisted
"…Okay you got me," Iris admitted with a sigh, "I-I'm just upset be-because of something…Cilan said about my crush," Iris stuttered trying to find some words to put a sentence.
"So Cilan knows who your crush is?!" Dawn squealed happily, "Tell me who it is please, I'm begging you!"
Dawn's sudden reaction caused Iris to break out laughing, "No way Dawn, I'm not telling!"
"Awww…" Dawn groaned, slumping over anime style Iris laughed harder, "I'm not telling…but I'll give you credit, because you sure know how to cheer me up!"
"Come on, just a hint?" Dawn begged giving Iris a puppy dog face
Iris rolled her eyes, unfazed by the puppy dog look, but she smiled "Oh, alright…I guess a hint won't hurt,"
"Okay, okay, what is it? What's your hint?" Dawn squealed jumping up and down somewhat on the bed.
"Okay…well um…" Iris thought for a moment. What could her hint be? She didn't want to make it too obvious that it was Ash; she blushed somewhat at the thought of having anyone know her secret.
"Iris! Tell me! Tell me! Tell me!" Dawn pleaded "Okay, okay…er well,"
hiding her pink face, she then thought of something good, "um…he is currently here in the Village of Dragons,"
Dawn blinked her blue eyes, "That's it?" she was obviously not very happy at the hint she was given, "well thanks that just narrows it down to just about, I don't know, every guy in the village!"
Iris giggled recovering from Dawns statement, "Well you asked for a hint and I gave you one,"
Dawn pouted, "No fair, that hint sucked, give me a better one," she pleaded Iris shook her head, "No Dawn, now will you stop it? You're being such a little kid", Iris retorted trying to get off topic.
"Am not"
"Are too"
"Am not"
"Are too, besides you pick out the most childish outfit to wear to the Moon Festival," Iris pointed out.
But at that comment both girls suddenly remembered something very important. This very important thing was the very reason why they woke up early and went out shopping that morning. Their clothes for the festival! Both of the girls locked eyes before jumping for their spots on Iris's bed and diving for their bags and tearing them open like it was Christmas.
"I cannot believe we forgot about our new outfits for the festival!" Dawn laughed pulling a stack of dress clothes out of one of her many bags.
"Yeah I know, we were so focused on something else we completely forgot", Iris agreed pulling some items out of her bags.
"And that something was your crush problems!" Dawn stated giggling, as she held a shirt in front of her chest while looking in the mirror.
"Hey I never said I had a problem," Iris argued trying on some new bracelets and hair bands.
"Sure, and slamming the door and causing small earthquakes totally doesn't scream problem," Dawn sarcastically announced.
"Whatever, let's just focus on getting our outfits ready for next week," Iris suggested trying to change the subject and at the same time stop blushing at how childish she had acted a few minutes ago.
Suddenly Dawn stopped and stood perfectly still, before slowly turning around to face her purple haired friend, she had a sly smile on her face "Oh, Iris I think there's one other very important thing we just forgot about,"
"What would that be Dawn?", Iris mindlessly asked examining another bracelet.
"Oh I don't know, maybe it has to do with that bet you made with Ash about who could find a date first at dinner last night?" Dawn said
Suddenly Iris froze, she glanced up at her friend, "Oh yeah…I-I almost forgot about that…"
"Iris how could you forget?" Dawn asked, "besides, you're gonna win that bet for sure!"
"How do you know?" Iris asked, as she pulled a pretty yellow skirt from one of her bags "Because, silly, you know exactly who you're gonna asked to be your date!" Dawn said smiling
"I-I do?" Iris asked, placing the skirt against her hips to see what it looked like Dawn sighed
"Do I have to spell it out for you?" Iris sweatdropped "Uh…I-I guess-"
"Your crush! You're gonna ask your crush to be your date, right?" Dawn asked, giggling Dawn expected Iris to agree with her and also laugh but she was startled to see Iris's face fall and the skirt she had slip from her hands and fall to the carpet floor.
"R-Right?" Dawn asked again Iris slumped down onto her bed again, "Um…I-I would b-but Dawn…I-I…"
Seeing her friend's distress Dawn arched an eyebrow, "What? Did I say something wrong?"
Iris shook her head before flopping onto her back, and stared up at the ceiling, "N-No…but it's just that…I-I mean…I was wondering if…" Iris stammered, she felt a flood of red starting to creep onto her cheeks, she slowly sat up, and then taking a breath she blurted, "Dawn could you please give some advice on how to get my crush to like me!" she pleaded, in one breath, trying not to seem embarrassed without success.
"Y-You need advice?" Dawn asked, slightly surprised
Iris gave a sheepish nod as the blush on her face increased greatly, "I-I don't know if you know this…but I-I not too good with talking an-and making people like me…e-especially guys…" a sad look seemed to flash over the dark skin girl's face as she admitted this
softly Dawn blinked, "Oh…I had no idea Iris…" she let her voice trail off as the blunette realized why Iris had been so jumpy when her Mom had said she was happy that Iris had made friends.
She never could have thought of Iris being the shy type, or anywhere close to boring. What could have prevented her from making friends here in the Village of Dragons? Dawn would of asked but she could tell, by the uneasy look on Iris's face, that the who conversation would touch a raw nerve, so she deiced against it.
Climbing onto the bed Dawn placed a hand on her purple haired friend's shoulder, "Don't worry Iris, I'll tell you everything you need to know about making your crush like you!"
"Really?" Iris asked, a small smile forming on her lips
"Yup!" Dawn said with a wink
"You're the best Dawn!" Iris exclaimed, throwing her arms around the bluenette girl
"Okay, now here's what you'll need to do", Dawn started, he face suddenly becoming very serious, "To get a guy to like you…have to act nice, keep conversation, dress up-"
"Dawn hold on your going too fast," Iris said stopping her friend, "I-I mean I can be nice…but I-I'm not good at keeping conversation, cause the moment I see As-I mean my crush…I get all nervous, my tongue doesn't work, my mind goes blank and…" she sighed and covered her face, "I make myself look like a total idiot!"
"Iris calm down," Dawn said shaking Iris's shoulder, firmly, "it's okay if you're not really good at talking to your crush,"
"It is?" Iris asked, in a small voice "Yup, and it's because I know a way to make it easier!" Dawn informed with a grin
"You do? What is it?" Iris asked quickly
"All you have to do…" Dawn stopped, just for effect, "is have confidence in yourself and talking to your crush will be a breeze!" the bluenette girl expected Iris to be smiling, seeing how she had just given her the answer to her question but she was surprised to see that Iris had a frown on her face, "What is it Iris?"
The dragon trainer sighed, "Well…it's just that…I-I really do-don't have a lot of c-confidence in myself…" she admitted, tugging absentmindedly on a lock of her hair
"Oh don't say that," Dawn said, "besides Iris how can you not have self-confidence?"
A sad look flickered in her brown eyes, "Well…i-it's because…well I-I…" the girl's voice cracked a bit, "I-I…I don't think…I'm pretty…"
Dawn gasped, "Iris you shouldn't say that about yourself!"
"Well it's true!" Iris snapped, looking at her friend, her eyes a bit glassy with tears, "I have dirt brown eyes, my hair always manages to get tangled and messy, and I'm just plan ugly! I-I just wished pretty like y-you Dawn!"
The bluenette girl blinked in shock, "I-Iris…you are pretty!"
"No I'm not," Iris said, brushing away her tears
"Yes you are!" Dawn insisted, feeling utterly sorry for her friend, "besides who told you were ugly? Whoever that person is I'll go and give them a piece of my mind-"
"I told myself that," Iris muttered
"Wha?!"
"Yeah…"
"Why would you do that, Iris?"
"Because…ever since I was l-little…kids would always te-tease and pi-pick on me and stuff," Iris started slowly, "they'd call me…palm t-tree head, ba-balloon head they called me ju-jungle animal because I li-liked climbing trees and swinging on vines and stuff…they thought I was weird and crazy…they were just really mean to me. No one li-liked me a-and that's why…I-I had such a ha-hard time…making friends…well until I met Ash o-of course"
Iris could help but let a small smile pull on the corner of her mouth as she thought briefly back on the day when she had first met the raven haired boy she had fallen for, she sniffled and whipped tears from brown eyes and continued, "and when me and all the other kids got older…all those girls got boyfriends or secret admires…I-I had well none. Not any of the boys even paid attention to me, th-the avoided me i-it was if I was invisible to them…s-so I just figured…I-I was ug-ugly and-"
"No Iris stop it!" Dawn demanded she hated hearing her friend say all these things about herself, she grabbed Iris by the shoulders, "You! Are! Not! Ugly!" she shouted shaking her roughly with each word Iris pulled back and looked sheepishly down at her hands feeling stupid for the little pity party she had just given herself,
"…A-Are you sure Dawn…am I-I really…well pretty?"
"Of course!" Dawn exclaimed, "You're just as pretty as me, better even!" she complemented trying to lift her friend's sprits
Iris turned away, blushing at her friend's kind words, "T-Thanks Dawn…but I-I'm still not so-"
"Alright Iris, if you don't believe me," Dawn interrupted, "I'll prove to you how beautiful you really are!"
"Really?" Iris asked, scrubbing away the last of her tears, "How Dawn?"
Dawn giggled, "Oh, you'll see,"
Iris arched an eyebrow, "What do you mean by-HEY!"
The purple haired girl didn't get to finish her sentence as her bluenette friend grabbed her by the wrist, yanked her off the bed and pulled her down the hallway.
"W-Where are you two going?" asked a startled Cilan as the two girls rushed past him
"I-I have n-no idea!" answered Iris as Dawn laughed and pulled her out the door